Nov. 24, 2025

Why Daily Time in God’s Word Matters More Than You Think

Send me a text When you feel spiritually empty or overwhelmed, God’s Word is where strength returns. In this episode, discover how daily Scripture reading can transform the way you think, feel, and live, one day at a time. Ever feel like you should read your Bible more, but life keeps getting in the way? Or maybe you’ve been reading it, but you’re not sure it’s actually doing anything? In this episode, Bart shares the incredible story of how the Word of God transformed one of the hardest plac...

Send me a text

When you feel spiritually empty or overwhelmed, God’s Word is where strength returns. In this episode, discover how daily Scripture reading can transform the way you think, feel, and live, one day at a time.

Ever feel like you should read your Bible more, but life keeps getting in the way?

Or maybe you’ve been reading it, but you’re not sure it’s actually doing anything?

In this episode, Bart shares the incredible story of how the Word of God transformed one of the hardest places in America, Louisiana’s Angola prison. Through inmate-led churches, Bible studies in the dorms, and decades of steady Scripture engagement, even researchers began noticing real change: identity transformation, peace replacing violence, and hope taking root.

If God’s Word can renew lives in a maximum-security prison, imagine what it can do in your home, your car, your break room, your commute.

This devotion will remind you that Scripture isn’t just information, it’s nourishment. It shapes you when your emotions pull you off center, anchors you when fear shows up, and strengthens a faith that’s learning to stand.

Main Scripture

Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT) – “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

Why Scripture is essential for a resilient faith
How daily Bible reading quietly transforms your thoughts and responses
Why God often works through slow, steady rhythms, not big moments
How God’s Word brings comfort, correction, clarity, and confidence

Today’s Challenge

Pick a time today, even five minutes, to open your Bible.

Ask God to speak to you, guide you, and shape your thoughts.

Let Jeremiah’s words become your prayer: “Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight.”

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who needs fresh encouragement in their walk with God.

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And if this podcast has helped you, please follow and leave a review. It helps more people find hope through God’s Word.

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Connect with Bart

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Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

WEBVTT

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It's Sunday inside Louisiana's Angola Prison, the place lifers call the farm. Most of the men here will never leave.

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In a crowded chapel, an inmate minister opens a worn Bible.

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He's not a visitor. He's a fellow prisoner trained to shepherd other prisoners. Week after week, he leads studies in the dorms, preys on the tears, and preaches hope where there really shouldn't be any. What could possibly change a place like this?

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Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger, and for the next few minutes, we're talking about why daily time in Scripture matters far more than most of us realize. If you ever wondered, does a few verses a day really make a difference?

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Then this episode's for you.

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Jeremiah 1516 says, Jeremiah isn't describing a casual skimming of God's Word.

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He's describing hunger. He's talking about words that bring joy and delight because they come from the living God. Think about that.

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Now let's go back to that story inside Angola. Back in 1995, Warden Burrell Kane invited New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to start an accredited program inside Angola. They trained inmates to be what they call field ministers. Since then, research has documented inmate-led churches, daily Bible studies, and mentoring within prisons. They noted a measurable shift in prison culture as the Word of God takes root in the ordinary routines of the prison.

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Reports found significant drops in violent incidents as the ministry took hold. What could we contribute this to? I firmly believe it comes from opening the Word of God day after day, even in the hardest places, and that it's changing lives just as God's promised. And if the Word of God can transform violent offenders in Angola, it can transform your home, your heart, your thought life, your habits, even your whole direction. Now here's what I know. Spiritual strength and growth don't come necessarily from big spiritual moments like those mountaintop experiences. It comes from our daily taking in God's Word, feeding on the Word of God daily.

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Just like your body needs food every day, your soul needs God's Word every single day. You know, there's something that happens when you open your Bible consistently. It's often subtle, but very powerful. Most days, it won't feel dramatic. You won't hear angels sing. You may not even remember, word for word, what you read an hour later. But over time, God's Word starts shaping you in ways you don't even notice at first. When your emotions start running wild, because they do, Scripture pulls your thoughts back to center.

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When fear starts trying to take over, God's Word becomes an anchor that keeps you anchored.

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When your heart drifts, and all of our hearts will drift from time to time, God's Word will gently correct your direction.

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And when you're hurting, those same pages become comfort. They remind you who you are when every lie in the world tries to tell you otherwise. And that's why we open our Bibles. not to check a box, not to keep up with some spiritual performance plan someone has us on, or to compete with someone else. We read the Word of God because that's where God speaks life into us. And when you make it a rhythm daily, even if it's just a few minutes, something begins to grow under the surface. Your roots go a little deeper, and your heart grows steadier and grows stronger. And your decisions get clearer, and your faith becomes more resilient. You may not see the change overnight, but stay with it. God promises His Word never returns without accomplishing its purpose, and that includes what He's planting in you. Daily scripture doesn't just change your habits. It changes you from the inside out.

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Today's challenge is simple.

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Read one chapter of scripture today, and read it slowly, and ask God one question. Lord, what are you saying to me? And don't rush it. Don't skim. Sit with it.

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Let it speak to you. We call that meditating on God's Word.

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Even five minutes can restart a habit that shapes your entire life. Lord, thank you for giving us your Word. Help me hunger for it the way Jeremiah described.

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Open my eyes to see what you want to show me, and give me the to return to your Word day after day. And let your Word reshape my thoughts and my choices and my heart. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives.

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Remember, God's Word doesn't just inform you, it transforms you. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth.

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Until then, God bless, and have a great day.

Why Daily Time in God’s Word Matters More Than You Think

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